How to Move Data from One Xiaomi to Another: A Complete Guide to 2026

Why Data Transfers Between Xiaomi Need a Special Approach

The transition to Xiaomi’s new smartphone is always exciting, but many users are not so much concerned with buying as with data transfer. Unlike other brands, Redmi, POCO and Mi have a unique MIUI ecosystem that offers both standard and exclusive migration tools.

For example, moving contacts and messages through Google Account seems like a universal solution, but it does not save the history of calls and configuration of applications. On the other hand, the Mi Mover proprietary solution copies almost everything, but works unstable on older models (up to MIUI 12), This article will help you choose the best method depending on your situation - whether it is an upgrade from Redmi Note 8 to Xiaomi 14 or a transition from POCO F3 to Redmi K70.

We tested 5 portability methods on devices with MIUI 13-15 and found critical nuances ranging from data volume limitations to custom firmware compatibility. Transfer over an OTG cable is 30% faster than over Wi-Fi, but requires the original Xiaomi cable with data support - cheap counterparts often cause the error "Connection is unstable."

1.The official way: Mi Mover - pros and pitfalls

Mi Mover is a proprietary tool from Xiaomi, integrated into MIUI since version 9.

• 📱 Contacts, messages (SMS/MMS) call history
• 📸 Photos and videos (including Google Photos albums, if synced)
• 🎵 Music and documents from internal memory
• ⚙️ System settings (wallpaper, sound profiles, brightness)
• 📦 Installed applications (without data, if there is no root)

To use Mi Mover, go to Settings on both phones → The phone. → Mi Mover. On the old device, select "I am the sender," on the new device, "I am the receiver." Follow the instructions on the screen. QR-code (wi-fi direct) or cable OTG.

⚠️ Note: If the new phone is installed MIUI Global, and old — MIUI China, the transfer may end with a 2001 error.Solution: Change region on both devices before migrating → Additionally. → Region.

2. Google Account Transfer: When it Works and When It Doesn't

Syncing with Google Account is the most versatile method, but it has critical limitations for Xiaomi users. By default, MIUI blocks automatic synchronization of some data (such as call history) to "save battery." To turn it on manually:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and activate the switches for: – Contacts – Calendar – Application Data (for backup settings)
3. Return to the main settings menu and go to Apps → Application Management → Google Play Services, then click Clear Cache (this eliminates the sync error 403).

⚠️ Note: If you have used dual applications (functions) MIUI For example, if you want to clone messengers, their data is not synchronized with Google, for example, the second WhatsApp account will have to be reconfigured.

The advantage of this method is cross-platform: if you move from Xiaomi to Samsung or iPhone, the data will remain available.

• 🚫 Not tolerated. SMS/MMS (Only through third-party applications like SMS Backup & Restore)
• 🚫 No call history (solution: export it manually via ##2664866##)
• 🚫 Applications are ported without data (for example, saves in games)

Check the free space in Google Drive|Activate two-factor authentication|Update Google Play Services|Turn off battery optimization for Google Account-->

OTG Local Cable Transfer: Fastest, but Not Most Reliable

Using an OTG cable (or USB-C to USB-C adapter) allows you to transfer data at speeds up to 40 MB/s, 3-4 times faster than Wi-Fi.

• 🔌 Original Xiaomi cable (cheap counterparts often do not support data transfer mode)
• 📱 Both phones should be debugged on USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer menu)
• 🔋 Battery charge of at least 50% (in case of power failure during transfer, data loss is possible)

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your old phone to your new one OTG-cable.
2. On the new device, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Open Explorer (Files by Google or Standard) MIUI File Manager) and copy the folders you need: DCIM — Photos and videos Downloads - downloads MIUI — themes Android/data — Application data (root required for full access)

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If the phone doesn't recognize. OTG-cable, try connecting it to your PC and select File Transfer mode – this often resets driver errors.

⚠️ Note: When copying a folder Android/data without root rights, many applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) will not recover data.

4. PC Transfer: Reliable but Long Term

If you have a computer, this method guarantees 100% control over the process.

• 💻 PC Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Two. USB-cables (preferably original)
• 📂 Programme Mi PC Suite (official utility from Xiaomi) or Syncios (for advanced users)

Instructions for Mi PC Suite:

1. Install the program from the official website.
2. Connect your old phone and create a backup (Tools → Backup).
3. Disable the old device, connect the new one and select Restore.
4. Select the data categories you want (e.g. Contacts + Messages) and confirm the recovery.

5. Cloud services: when they are getting and when they are failing

Using clouds (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive) is convenient for transferring sample data, but has limitations:

• 📁 Mi Cloud (5GB free) – optimized for Xiaomi, but does not carry apps.
• 📁 Google Drive (15GB) – Universal but slow to load large files (e.g. video) 4K).
• 📁 Yandex Drive is faster than Google in Russia, but there is no official integration with Google MIUI.

To transfer via Mi Cloud:

1. On your old phone: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync → Select data and click Sync.
2. On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for the synchronization to complete.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Mi Cloud for the first time, the system may request confirmation by SMS Without it, sync won't start, and also note that photos in their original quality take up space in the cloud, and compressed versions ("Saving Traffic") lose details.

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To move WhatsApp through the cloud, use the built-in backup in Google Drive (Settings → Chat → Backup). Mi Cloud does not support backup of messengers!

6. Data portability for advanced: ADB and TWRP

If standard methods do not work (for example, when switching from custom firmware to stock MIUI), you can use:

• 🐍 ADB (Android Debug Bridge – to copy system files.
• 🔧 TWRP — To create a full backup nandroid.

Example of commands for transferring SMS over ADB:

adb backup -f sms_backup.ab -apk com.android.providers.telephony

To restore:

adb restore sms_backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: Use TWRP on new Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+) It can block the bootloader if you don't officially unlock it through the Mi Unlock Tool, and it will lead to a "brick" of the device!

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when following instructions, users face problems, and here are the most common ones:

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If the new phone has lost wallpaper or notification sounds after the transfer, check the MIUI/theme folder – sometimes it does not copy due to MIUI limitations on system files.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions